Pritchardia schattaueri

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Pritchardia (pritch-AHR-dee-ah) schattaueri (skah-tower'-ee)
Garrett3.jpg
In habitat on Jimmy Stewart's Ranch - Kona, Hawaii.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Pritchardia (pritch-AHR-dee-ah)
Species: schattaueri (skah-tower'-ee)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
America.gif
Morphology
Habit: Solitary
Leaf type: Palmate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Hawaiian; Hāwane, Loulu, Noulu, Wāhane.

Habitat and Distribution

Moist forest on gentle slopes, 600-800 m elevation. Endemic to mixed mesic forests on the southwestern part of island of Kona, Hawaii. This beautiful loulu is found from about 1970 to 2625 feet in moist forests on gentle slopes in South Kona, Hawaiʻi Island where fewer than a dozen remain in the wild. (Notes from a presentation to the Hawaii Botanical Society by Donald R. Hodel on 11/2/11.)

In habitat on Jimmy Stewart's Ranch - Kona, Hawaii.

Description

This species reaches an incredible height of 130 feet (40 m), with a trunk diameter of 1 foot (0.30 m). The 30 or so leaves in the crown, are 5–6 feet (1.5–1.8 m) long and have 6–7-foot (1.8–2.1 m) petioles. It grows at elevations of 2,000–2,600 feet (610–790 m), where it receives 2,000 millimetres (79 in.) of rainfall per year.

To 25 m tall; proximal margins of petiole with abundant fibers; leaf blade slightly undulate, divided 1/3-2/5, abaxial surface incompletely covered with scattered lepidia, segment tips drooping inflorescences composed of 1-4 panicles, shorter than or about equaling petioles, when in flower, and in fruit, panicles branched to 2 orders, rachillae glabrous; fruits 30-50 x 30-40 mm, globose to obovoid. (Hodel, D. 2007)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

Pritchardia schattalleri can be distinguished by its leaf blades incompletely covered abaxially with lepidia and divided to more than one third with pendulous segment tips, inflorescences shorter than or about equaling the petioles, glabrous rachillae and large fruits. It is similar to P. gordonii but the latter differs in having leaf blades with narrower and more deeply bifid segment tips (resulting in the tips appearing more conspicuously pendulous), slightly longer inflorescences equaling or exceeding the petioles in fruit, and oblate fruits. (Hodel, D. 2007)/Palmweb.

Culture

Sunny, moist, but well drained position. Probably the fastest growing of all Pritchardias. Pritchardia seeds have been shown to have a high germination rate and seedlings grow well in the right nutrient, temperature, and light conditions. The outer husk must be removed from the seeds in order for germination to occur. This is most easily achieved by soaking the seeds for at least 24 hours. After removal of the outer husk the seeds can be germinated by placing them in the dark for 4-8 weeks either in a planting medium (such as 3 parts perlite to 2 parts peat moss) or potting soil in seed flats or in zip lock bags. (National Tropical Botanical Garden)

Apply a complete palm fertilizer with minor elements as directed on label. Be certain that sufficient magnesium and potassium is present in the fertilizer component. This is especially critical for loulus in pots. Magnesium and potassium deficiencies are two of the most serious nutritional disorders in palms. The deficiencies are characterized by bright yellowing (chlorotic) on leaf edges or streaking or the entire fronds yellowing. This can be difficult to reverse. Applications of Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), is good but does not last and is usually washed out of the soil in rainy periods. There are some very good slow release fertilizer spikes made especially for palms on the market which contain a good balance of minor elements with magnesium and potassium. Potted or younger loulu planted in the ground appreciate a foliar feeding of kelp or fish emulsion and Epsom salt monthly or bi-monthly. Palm grower Garrett Webb, Kalaoa Gardens, Kailua-Kona notes that "even though the remnant population grows at a higher elevation where it is cool and cloudy, it has proven to perform well in hot and dry lower elevations. Garrett Webb also suggests that "it grows best with some shade at immature stages and will eventually tolerate full sun." (Encyclopedia of Life curator Dr. David Eickhoff)

Comments and Curiosities

Etymology: Pritchardia name is dedicated to William Thomas Pritchard (1829-1907), British official stationed in Fiji in the 19th Century, British counsul in Fiji, adventurer, and author of Polynesian Reminiscences in 1866. The speific epithet schattaueri is named for George Schattauer of Kona, Hawaiʻi who discovered this species in 1960 while clearing his land. ("A New Species of Pritchardia from South Kona, Hawaii" by Donald R. Hodel, pages 31, 32.)

Phenology: "The yellow flowers, like other Pritchardia spp., are showy en masse. The fruits are brown to black with brown spots when ripe and are from 1 to 2 inches long and about as wide." (Bill Chang)

Conservation: It is threatened by habitat loss. As of 1998 there were 12 individuals remaining in the wild. This is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. (ICUN Redlist)

"Pritchardia schattaueri is closely related to P. forbesiana, P. gordonii, P. lowreyana, and P. munroi." "The vernacular, or common, name "Lands of Papa pritchardia" comes from the location where it was first discovered, Papa, South Kona, Hawaiʻi Island." (A Review of the Genus Pritchardia" by Donald R. Hodel, page S-8, S-39, S-41-42.)

"Each of the semicircular leaves is 5 to 6 feet wide. The leaf crown is spherical and dense. The petioles, stem portion connecting leaf to the palm, are 6 or 7 feet long, and covered in light brown, chalky tomentum (fuzz) on the lower surfaces." (Bill Chang), edric.

"A distinctive feature of this species is the drooping leaf tips at maturity." (Garrett Webb, Kalaoa Gardens)

"By far the tallest of the Pritchardias, growing up to 130'! Has very long, large drooping leaves and leaflet tips. Leaves start out semicircular but eventually seem more wedge shaped. Form the big island of Hawaii where it is endangered. Great palm for southern California, too, seeming to handle some mild frosts OK, but not as fast a grower as some other species." (Geoff Stein)

Short forum discussion HERE

External Links

References

Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.

Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.

Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos.

Glossary of Palm Terms; Based on the glossary in Dransfield, J., N.W. Uhl, C.B. Asmussen-Lange, W.J. Baker, M.M. Harley & C.E. Lewis. 2008. Genera Palmarum - Evolution and Classification of the Palms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All images copyright of the artists and photographers (see images for credits).

Hodel, D. 2007.


Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.

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